The National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that several Northwest Indian tribes and the state of Washington will be eligible for up to a total of $2 million to assist tribal and non-tribal communities affected by the commercial fishery failure in Fraser River sockeye salmon. “The assistance we are announcing today will help tribal and non-tribal fishermen who have been hurt by drastic declines in sockeye salmon runs and harvests that are so important to these communities,” Acting Assistant Administrator Jim Balsiger said in a press release.
Riley Pratt O’Brien of Friday Harbor, Wash., formerly of Winnetka, Ill., and Buffalo, N.Y., died at the age of 97 on Nov. 8, 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Mary Frances Aspinwall; and his wife of 16 years, Martha Towle Fortune.
There’s no reason to be hungry, alone or miss out on some camaraderie with your neighbors this Thanksgiving season. Volunteers are preparing turkey with all the trimmings, sweet potatoes and pies for two community Thanksgiving dinners. The events are free and open to the public.
The recent loss of seven Puget Sound orcas – close to 10 percent of the Sound’s orca population – has prompted the Puget Sound Partnership to convene a special meeting of salmon and orca experts today, 4-5:30 p.m., at the U.W. Friday Harbor Labs.
A proposed committee will develop a plan to replace the crumb rubber underlayment at the Friday Harbor Elementary School playground. A public meeting is scheduled Nov. 20, 6 p.m. in the Friday Harbor Elementary School cafeteria. Organizers say community support will be essential, so an advisory board will be created to assist in the development of a plan to replace the crumb rubber.
San Juan Island School Board Chairman Boyd Pratt discussed combining services with other districts. Collaboration of services to be considered include special education, technology and vocational programs.
The San Juan School District will present long-range financial planning and implication for instructional programs Nov. 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m., in the Friday Harbor Middle School Commons. The meeting is open to the public. Planning for legislative advocacy to compel the Legislature to fully fund basic education will also be presented.
Existing regulations are considered too restrictive for siting or expansion of essential public facilities, such as airports, barge landings, schools or solid-waste stations. Change might be just around the corner for San Juan County’s hotly-debated rules governing essential public facilities.
Skagit Valley College presents “Women’s Cultures — Matri-Centered Societies and the Goddess” Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Orcas Senior Center. Delve into the key cultural anthropology concepts of the matri-centered culture of South India and the Native Americans in the Southwest. You will explore the diverse cultures of women in history and what is known archaeologically about women, matri-centered societies and the goddess — along with questions of matriarchy, patriarchy, empowerment and the infinite possibilities that exist for society and culture from the past to the future.
San Juan Island Fitness, in cooperation with the local PTAs, is presenting “Kids Night Out” Nov. 15, beginning at 5 p.m., at the fitness center.
The San Juan County Council will act on a year’s worth of proposed changes to the county’s Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Code (UDC) at its meeting on Nov. 18. Among the proposed changes is a provision which could affect how often changes to the UDC itself could be considered.
Carl Stoddard, first superintendent of San Juan Island National Park, died at home with his loving family around him on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008.
In June, the County Council approved a ban on safe-and-sane fireworks, to take effect 12 months later. Thanks to a referendum, voters may get a chance to challenge that ban. The county auditor’s office has certified Referendum 2008-2 as qualified for the November 2009 ballot.
